2016 Volume 87 Issue 4 Pages 367-371
We studied the relationship between rumination times and perinatal diseases for dairy cows. Rumination times were measured using automatic rumination-measuring sensors on the necks of 22 dairy cows during the perinatal period. We also observed the cows for clinical signs and tested their blood biochemistry. Six cows exhibited an onset of perinatal disease, and the average rumination time of the close-up period for these cows was lower than that of the other 16 cows, which did not show any clinical signs. Prenatal rumination time was related to serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) level at calving, and rumination time at calving was related to postnatal serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) level. In conclusion, it is suggested that rumination during the close-up period is related to perinatal disease.
